Number Of Fungal Meningitis Cases Continues To Rise

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DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - The number of people sickened by fungal meningitis in Michigan has now risen to 29 — including three deaths.

Rare fungal meningitis has been linked to contaminated steroids injected into people with back pain. The medication was made by a Massachusetts pharmacy and shipped to four Michigan clinics.

Michigan Department of Community Health spokeswoman Angela Minicuci said the number is expected to rise as more people develop symptoms.

She told WWJ Newsradio 950 the Massachusetts company that supplied the injections has now recalled all the products it produced.

“And while I can’t confirm how many I do know that there are other facilities in the state that received other products from them,” said Minicuci. “Again, there is no indication that any of those other products are contaminated but they do produce other products and those other products have been recalled, again, strictly out of an abundance of caution.”

There have been at least 12 deaths from the national outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted new numbers on its website Wednesday.

The Michigan residents who died were a 67-year-old woman from Livingston County, a 78-year-old woman from Washtenaw County and a 56-year-old woman from Genesee County.